- Calligraphy is the Japanese art of writing beautifully.set for calligraphy image by Daria Miroshnikova from Fotolia.com
Calligraphy is an artful form of penmanship. In calligraphy, the artist represents each word's beauty by writing each word beautifully. The calligraphy artist uses a black, soft mat (called a shitajiki), weighed down by a metal stick, as a writing surface. Using a calligraphy brush and ink, the artist writes each Japanese character with thick brushstrokes. - Ukiyo-e is a form of Japanese painting.japanese graffiti image by michele goglio from Fotolia.com
Ukiyo-e literally translates to "pictures of the floating world." The painting style originated in Tokyo during the Edo Period (1615-1868) and depicts landscapes, Sumo wrestlers, actors and scenes from Japanese history. Ukiyo-e is made by a process of woodblock printing, so in many cases, four artisans were involved in the creation of a Ukiyo-painting: the artist who imagined the scene and painted it with ink on paper, the carver who carved the scene onto the woodblock, the printer who executed the woodblock printing and the publisher who marketed the artwork. - Haiku poems have three lines and a total of 17 syllables.writing image by Alison Bowden from Fotolia.com
The Haiku poem is a 17-syllable poem containing three lines: the first with five syllables, the second with seven, and the third with five. Haiku poems have seasonal themes, so the Haiku poet chooses a theme and then incorporates natural imagery -- such as frost or cherry blossoms -- into the poem to signify the season. - Origami is the Japanese art of paper folding.origami image by Ingrid Walter from Fotolia.com
Origami is the Japanese art of folding paper. Paper is the only material required; tape, glue and scissors aren't necessary. Traditional origami paper is thin, brightly colored and easy to crease, although origami can be made from any type of paper. Common origami creations include the frog, crane, kite and fish. - Bonsai is the Japanese art of cultivating miniature trees.bonsai 1 image by Melisback from Fotolia.com
Bonsai is the Japanese art of growing and cultivating miniature trees. Unlike full-sized trees, bonsai trees aren't grown for landscaping or food production; rather, they're simply meant to be beautiful. Growers typically use evergreen trees for the art, although deciduous trees can be used as well. The cultivator keeps the bonsai tree small by periodically removing the tree from its pot and trimming its roots. - There are three main types of Japanese gardens: hill gardens, tea gardens, and Zen gardens.Japanese Garden, Kew image by segantii from Fotolia.com
Japanese gardens can be broken down into three main categories: hill gardens, tea gardens and Zen gardens (also called "dry gardens"). Hill gardens are decorated with artfully arranged stones, trees and plants for lush, green appearance. They may also include water --- a pond or stream --- and bridges. Zen gardens are filled with rocks, gravel and sand for a minimal look. Tea gardens contain a tea house, with stepping stones and lanterns leading to the building. - Ikebana is the Japanese art of flower arrangement.ikebana image by Craig Hanson from Fotolia.com
Ikebana is the Japanese art of flower arrangement. In Ikebana, the arranger attempts to represent the whole of nature by using flowers to signify sky, earth and mankind. The artist can use materials such as branches, mosses, leaves and man-made elements as well as flowers in the arrangement.
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